“A generational conversation in paint, this mural traces the evolution of Twin Cities graffiti writing from the late ’80s to today. Each artist builds on the legacy of the last, creating a living archive of style, influence, and community.”
— Joe Ellis
CUB FOODS, 2023
In partnership with Joe Ellis Art, the LynLake Street Art Series unveiled a major public mural on the west side of Cub Foods in Uptown, Minneapolis. Featuring contributions from DAESK ONE (Peyton Scott Russell), EMER (Chaka Mkali), EWOK HM MSK (George Thompson), YEN34 HM, KAHN, and SHOCK UC MSK, this collaborative work brings together six pivotal figures from the Twin Cities graffiti scene.
The mural unfolds as a chronological narrative, tracing the evolution of graffiti painting in the region from the late 1980s to the present. Beginning with DAESK ONE, a foundational figure in local style-writing, the story moves through EMER, a Los Angeles transplant turned Minneapolis community leader and EWOK HM MSK, widely regarded as the master of Midwestern letterform. It continues with the elusive YEN34 HM, a near mythical painter from St. Paul, and KAHN HM, an artist and visionary organizer. The sequence culminates with SHOCK UC MSK, whose advanced style both transcends and pays tribute to those who came before him.
By presenting these artists side by side, this painting celebrates graffiti as an evolving art form, one rooted in mentorship, community, and innovation. This work stands as both a monument and a conversation, honoring the generational lineage of Twin Cities graffiti.
